MacDirectory magazine is the premiere creative lifestyle magazine for Apple enthusiasts featuring interviews, in-depth tech reviews, Apple news, insights, latest Apple patents, apps, market analysis, entertainment and more.
Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/1420529
MacDirectory: What inspired you to become an artist? Jerome Ressot: I have loved drawing since I was a kid... I spent countless hours filling my school notebooks with lots of silly sketches and telling my own stories. When I learned that there were professions where you could draw for a living, I knew what my path was. I just could not imagine doing anything that was not creative. I first studied product design and then over the years explored other fields such as illustration and storyboarding. That journey of discovery continues to this day because there’s always something new to learn and try. MD: Can you tell us about some of the projects you are currently working on? JR: I work full-time as a product designer for a company that specializes in urban lighting, so I use my free time diligently to build my artistic skills. In addition to some commissioned work, I am currently devoting my time to a personal project. I use it as an opportunity to continually improve my skills in visual development, character design, concept art, etc. I explore new techniques, whether it be in painting or other mediums such as 3D modeling. MD: Where do you get the inspiration for your art? JR: Apart from reality, I try to gather a lot of inspiration materials from different sources. It can be books I read, like Edgar Poe, HP Lovecraft, René Barjavel, Isaac Asimov or Ray Bradbury, but also movies, comics, graphic or product design projects, etc. MD: How does Corel Painter help you develop and create your artwork? JR: I enjoy the “real feel” that Painter gives when drawing. I like that it’s like a traditional art studio without the need for a room. It’s very versatile - I can use it as a sketchbook for quick doodles when I am looking for an idea or defining a figure, and then immediately kick it up a notch and start on a more elaborate painting. I have all the tools at my fingertips. MD: What is your favorite tool/feature in Corel Painter? And why? JR: Now that I am using the latest - Painter 2022 - my tastes have changed a bit. Although I still work a lot with the Scratchboard tool, my real favorite brushes now are the Soft Triangle in Pastel and the new category Bravura Oils. I just love how these two paints can blend together and allow you to work with either big strokes or tiny precise details. Fringe watercolors are also really nice to work with. These days I am experimenting a lot with the new Captured Dabs, which add numerous brush customization options to an already extensive library. MD: What inspired you to enter the Painter art competition this year? JR: I came across the Painter Art Contest page while searching the website for Painter webinars (which I find very informative). I browsed the gallery of submitted paintings and found some really impressive work. I was working on a painting at the time and thought it would be ideal for the competition. More than the competition aspect, curiosity and the feeling of being part of the art community made me apply. It’s nice to see my work alongside others, compare technique, and wonder, “Hey, that’s beautiful! How did they do that?” It inspires me and helps me grow as an artist. I think competitions are a great way to get out of your comfort zone - to work with subjects or ideas you are not used to.